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Tuesday, Mar 31, 2020 08:00 AM

How will Buffalo's 2020 NFL draft plans shift after free agency

Chris Brown

Bills Insider

The Buffalo Bills offseason to-do list following the 2019 campaign had scoring more points on offense at the top. Ranking 30th and 23rd in points per game the last two seasons, they knew they needed to add a dynamic point producer who could lift a passing game that ranked 31st and 26th in 2018 and 2019 into the top half of the league.

So general manager Brandon Beane swung big to land an elite receiver in Stefon Diggs with a trade that had the Bills part with their first-round pick this year along with a fifth and sixth in 2020.

Buffalo successfully filled a sizable void in their passing attack. Diggs' 23 touchdowns the last three seasons is tied for fifth-highest in the league over that span.

But acquisitions of this magnitude come at a price, and now Beane and his college scouting staff must recalibrate their approach to the 2020 NFL draft knowing their work likely won't even begin until day two.

What's still in the draft bank?

Buffalo went from nine total selections in the 2020 draft to seven after the Diggs trade, with the Bills getting a seventh rounder back from Minnesota.

Their first pick is in round two at 54th overall, followed by pick 86 in round three. After that their remaining five selections sit in rounds four through seven (128, 167, 188, 207, 239).

It's enough day three draft capital to move up or down the board a bit as Beane has been known to do in the last two drafts he's overseen for the Bills. But major moves are not likely to be in the cards.

"To me, I think you look at Buffalo right now, they don't really need a lot. I mean on paper they're right there where they need to be. They were a playoff team last year."
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper

Up until late last week Buffalo was in need of some depth at cornerback and at offensive tackle, but those were addressed to some degree with cornerback E.J. Gaines and offensive lineman Daryl Williams in free agency.

"To me, I think you look at Buffalo right now, they don't really need a lot," said ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper. "I mean on paper they're right there where they need to be. They were a playoff team last year. They certainly have helped Josh Allen with the addition of Diggs. Another offensive tackle certainly wouldn't hurt to put into that mix there. Maybe a running back at some point. There's some depth at that position in the draft as well."

What is not known is whether the Bills see Williams as more of a guard or a tackle. The answer could be both knowing how much Buffalo covets position flexibility in their players and Williams has NFL starts at both positions.

Youth at cornerback is still on the list knowing the position can be expensive and only figures to command more of the team's salary cap total when Tre'Davious White is signed to a multi-year extension. Grooming a young cornerback while on a rookie salary could make good financial sense.

And then there's the question of pass rusher. Beane stated at the NFL combine that he's always looking for pass rush talent. He even went so far as to say that even if the club was able to re-sign Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips, he'd still consider taking a pass rusher in the draft.

Cornerback | Josh Norman joins the Bills from Washington. Once considered one of the league's best cover corners, Norman will likely compete for a starting job opposite of Tre'Davious White this season.

Washington Redskins' Josh Norman reacts after a stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with DT Quinton Jefferson.

Jefferson, 26, joins the Bills from Seattle. The 6'4", 291 pound DT spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seahawks, starting during the last two.

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Seattle Seahawks' Quinton Jefferson reacts during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Seattle Seahawks' Quinton Jefferson, left, and Jadeveon Clowney, right, close in on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, center, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 21-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

John Froschauer/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Defensive Tackle | Media reports indicate that Vernon Butler has agreed to a deal with the Bills via free agency. He is regarded as being a very physical player, and should add some more "nasty" to the DL group.

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler (92) takes the field priore to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Brian Blanco/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with LB Tyler Matakevich.

Matakevich, 27, joins the Bills from Pittsburgh. The 6'1", 235 pound LB spent the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers and is regarding as one of the best tacklers on special teams in the league.

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Linebacker | Reports have indicated that Tyler Matakevich will join the Bills as a free agent. A terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020.

Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with LB AJ Klein.

Klein, 28, joins the Bills from New Orleans. The 6'1", 240 pound LB comes to Buffalo after spending the previous 3 seasons with the Saints.

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New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) scores after an interception on Carolina Panthers quarterback Will Grier (3) during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Brian Blanco/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Linebacker | Reports have indicated that AJ Klein will join the Bills as a free agent. Another terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020 on special teams and defense.

New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints beat the Titans 38-28. (Cooper Neill via AP)

Cooper Neill

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New Orleans Saints linebacker A.J. Klein (53) lines up for the snap during an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings beat the Saints 26-20. (Matt Patterson via AP)

Matt Patterson/Matt Patterson

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New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) takes a defensive position during an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in New Orleans. The Saints defeated the Colts 34-7. (Margaret Bowles via AP)

Margaret Bowles

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Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with RB Taiwan Jones.

Jones joins the Bills again after playing in Houston last season. He was a member of the Bills in 2018, and is regarded as a very good special teams player.

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Houston Texans running back Taiwan Jones rushes against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Buffalo Bills running back Taiwan Jones (26) in action during the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals game on August 26, 2018 at New Era Field.
Photo by Craig Melvin

Craig Melvin

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Taiwan Jones has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Bills. He is considered a very good special teams player and was with the team in 2018.

Houston Texans running back Taiwan Jones (34) runs during an NFL regular season football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Houston. The Titans won, 35-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)

Ric Tapia/AP2019

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Running Back | The media is reporting that Taiwan Jones is back in Buffalo after agreeing to a one-year deal. Jones is a very valuable special teams player, and was with the Bills in 2018.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) hands the ball off to running back Taiwan Jones (34) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Daryl Williams (60) lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Mike McCarn/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

Kiel Maddox/Kiel Maddox

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

Fresno State defensive back Mike Bell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

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What should be available on day two?

There is a good level of consensus among the draftniks that the strongest depth after the receiver position lies at cornerback and running back. Those are two areas the Bills could target for depth with offensive tackle and pass rusher likely to be on the list as well.

Pro Football Focus' Austin Gayle, who believes cornerback should be a consideration for the Bills on day two, sees options for Buffalo at pick 54.

"I think this is a very deep cornerback class," Gayle said. "I know they have Tre'Davious White and others, but it's going to be hard to pass up on guys like Cameron Dantzler from Mississippi State and Jeff Gladney from TCU. There's a ton of talent at corner where the Bills should be licking their chops at the depth they're going to be able to attack on days two and three."

Kiper believes there could be as many as five corners coming off the board in round two.

"Kristian Fulton is a guy you ask why hasn't he generated more buzz given the combine and what he put together at LSU," he said. "He ran a 4.46, solid athlete and did have a good year. I have him going in the second round. I have him right now as the seventh best corner. He's essentially graded the same as the fourth corner, so fourth to the seventh, eighth corner there's not much of a difference. So they're going to all be second-round corners the way I see it right now."

Knowing offensive tackle and the pass rusher role might be a bit thinner, it could convince the Bills to more heavily consider one of those prospects when they're on the clock on day two provided the value matches up to their selection.

"I think the edge rusher, that's something where (the Bills) could add," Kiper said. "Yes, (Mario) Addison steps in, but could you add somebody there? So what about someone like a Jonathan Greenard? Where does he go out of Florida after not running great at the combine how far does he drop? He's a good player.

"His teammate Jabari Zuniga out of Florida has good pass rush ability. Bradley Anae from Utah, where does he fall coming out from out of Utah? Julian Okwarah from Notre Dame. He had the injury this year, but he played really well two years ago. So I think there are some pass rushers that I think they could find on day two or three, that can help their football team."

Among the offensive tackle prospects that Kiper felt could fall into the round two to three range were Houston's Josh Jones, Boise State's Ezra Cleveland, USC's Austin Jackson and UConn's Matt Peart.

Running back depth is another area where Buffalo could scoop up talent on day two according to Kiper.

"I think you look at Zack Moss from Utah, a Cam Akers, Florida State," he said. "AJ Dillon from Boston College has moved up and Joshua Kelley from UCLA is a little underrated. Darrynton Evans from Appalachian State is another guy. I know they already got a good one out of Florida Atlantic last year with (Devin) Singletary. But Evans I think is going to be a good player coming out of App State."

Might the Bills look for a young CB prospect for Tre'Davious White to mentor early in the draft? Some analysts think so, and think another LSU CB would be the perfect fit. Fulton is extremely rangy and has great awareness on the field, much like Tre'Davious White.

Might the Bills look for a young CB prospect for Tre'Davious White to mentor early in the draft? Some analysts think so, and think another LSU CB would be the perfect fit. Fulton is extremely rangy and has great awareness on the field, much like Tre'Davious White.

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Draft outlook

Once again, Buffalo's personnel boss has done a solid job of filling many positional holes in free agency allowing the Bills to adhere to their best player available selection strategy. It provides Beane with the peace of mind that they're not ignoring some positional need by going with the best prospect on their board when they're on the clock.

Armed with seven picks the Bills should have enough capital to put some promising young talent in the team's pipeline and address positions in need of some depth. They just have to sit out night one of the draft before they can get started.

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